Tuesday - Two's

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2006
Tuesday - Two's
7
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 10:53am

exercise


In order to stay healthy and fit, do your kids actually do some type of regular workout? Or do they mainly just play outside, ride their bike and do the regular kid activities that come along with being a kid?


What age child needs to get on some sort of regular routine at home or the gym? Do you think that is necessary?


Bonus: Do you workout? Share with us your workout routine.


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 11:21am

In order to stay healthy and fit, do your kids actually do some type of regular workout? Or do they mainly just play outside, ride their bike and do the regular kid activities that come along with being a kid?

My kids are in year round organized sports so that's their main form of exercise. Evan swims 2 hours/day six days/week and Megan goes to gymnastics for 2 hours/2x/week and swimming lessons for an hour 1/week. It looks like in the fall she'll be playing soccer twice/week and one game/week instead of gymnastics. Both kids are outside almost all of the free time they've got these days.

What age child needs to get on some sort of regular routine at home or the gym? Do you think that is necessary?

If they're in organized sports, I don't think it's necessary. If not, they should get some sort of exercise 4-5 times/week when they're old enough to understand that their body needs exercise to be healthy and can make a commitment to it. That depends on the child but I'd say around 9 or so. I'm not talking gym workouts here. I'm just thinking bike riding, running, yoga, even some of the Wii games, whatever floats their boat. Evan has a few weeks here and there between swim seasons and last winter we got him a one month membership at my gym (11 was their youngest age) and he did some time on the treadmill and a few of the machines. Right now, he's too small to fit properly on most of the machines so he didn't use them. He has done a little free weight work at home but nothing serious. The swim team has a weight routine that the kids do that involves sit-ups, chin-ups, push ups, and med ball work. I walked in to practice the other day and the kids were taking turns lying down on the diving boards doing back extensions while someone held their legs.

At gymnastics Megan (8) does crunches, chin ups, jumping jacks, push ups, and this v thing where they hang on a bar and use their abs to bring their toes up to their hands on the bar while keeping their legs straight and toes pointed. All this in addition to their skills...

Bonus: Do you workout? Share with us your workout routine.

I wouldn't call it a workout but I do walk for 30 - 45 minutes 5 times/week. I have a Jillian Michaels DVD that I've used twice and it's a killer! I've actually decided that I need to crank things up a little in the workout department so I'm going to try to make that a more regular part of what I do. See right now none of my clothes from last summer fit, I'm sitting around too much, and as of January my resting heart rate, cholesterol, and blood pressure were all on the rise. Time to get serious!! Just last week I recommitted to living healthier. This morning I even walked to the bank instead of driving. Yeah me!!!

Community Leader
Registered: 12-16-2003
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 12:27pm
When the kids are in sports we don't worry about it much.

Ramona  Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2007
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 1:49pm

In order to stay healthy and fit, do your kids actually do some type of regular workout? Or do they mainly just play outside, ride their bike and do the regular kid activities that come along with being a kid? Colin plays a lot with friends, they enjoy getting football, baseball, and kickball games going. He also enjoys skateboarding and riding his scooter. He also usually does daily exercise with me. We will do an indoor walking DVD and some weight training. I think it's very important for kids to see the adults in their life exercise and eat healthy.


What age child needs to get on some sort of regular routine at home or the gym? Do you think that is necessary? Even toddlers can have fun and do some physical activities. I have two climbers (a big one for the older ones and a

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2003
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 3:07pm

Chelsea in her 3rd year of Tae Kwon Do.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2004
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 3:11pm

In order to stay healthy and fit, do your kids actually do some type of regular workout? Or do they mainly just play outside, ride their bike and do the regular kid activities that come along with being a kid?

Avatar for sesamemom98
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 3:45pm

In order to stay healthy and fit, do your kids actually do some type of regular workout? Or do they mainly just play outside, ride their bike and do the regular kid activities that come along with being a kid?


Most healthy kids just need to get outside & play!

Thanks to Kelly (mom2emsopmax) for my beautiful siggy! Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-1998
Tue, 06-24-2008 - 5:41pm

DS loves being active. During the school year, he does karate 2 or 3 days a week. In the summer, he just runs around outside a lot.


DD hates physical activity, but has committed to jogging three or more days per week. It's not enough--you really need to work out every day--but it's a good start for her.


I need to run to stay sane. In the summer, I'll do 3 or 4 miles each day, 5 on the weekends and in the winter, I'll cut back to 3 (hate ice and cold) or do a made-up aerobics routine in the house.